Overhaul of LBs in full effect for A&M

By Brent Zwerneman :
April 11, 2013
: Updated: April 13, 2013 12:01am

Donnie Baggs #36 of the Texas A&M Aggies intercepts a pass intended for Chance Nelson #81 of the Sam Houston State Bearkats at Kyle Field on November 17, 2012 in College Station, Texas. (Bob Levey / Getty Images)

Photo By Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle

Texas A&M linebacker Donnie Baggs (36) fumbles the ball after an interception as Sam Houston State wide receiver Chance Nelson (81) hit him during the first half of a college football game at Kyle Field, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in College Station. Texas A&M recovered the fumble.

Photo By Associated Press

Texas A&M linebacker Donnie Baggs (36) grabs the helmet of Missouri running back Henry Josey (20) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, in College Station, Texas. Missouri won in overtime 38-31. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M junior linebacker Donnie Baggs this week visited with media covering the Aggies for the first time since his arrival two years ago. First impression: He's a realist, which should warm his coaches' hearts.

“We've got a lot of work to go,” Baggs said of the A&M linebacking corps.

He's right, because every Aggie on that side of the ball — and even their fans stacked in the stands above them — realize it won't be easy to replace stalwart starters Sean Porter and Jonathan Stewart, seniors last season who helped lead A&M to an 11-2 record in the Aggies' first season in the Southeastern Conference.

Hagen, too, is new to his position, having arrived at A&M from Indiana to take over for the departed Matt Wallerstedt, the new defensive coordinator at Texas Tech under coach and former Aggies offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

“There are very few programs for which you would leave your alma mater,” said Hagen, an all-conference linebacker for the Hoosiers in the early 1990s. “This is one of them. (And) I was getting away from a state where maybe the round ball (basketball) is No. 1. It's nice to be at a place where football is No. 1.”

That is evidenced by what's airing on ESPN starting at 2 p.m. Saturday: the A&M spring game from Kyle Field.

While many will tune in to catch Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel in action, viewers also will see Hagen working with a multitude of players in search of the right trio in defensive coordinator Mark Snyder's 4-3 alignment.

Senior Nate Askew is among the candidates. A&M fans are familiar with Askew — as a backup receiver the past three years. Second-year coach Kevin Sumlin shifted Askew, a former Madison High standout, to linebacker this spring because of the glut of talented receivers in the Aggies' wide-open offense — and a need for linebackers.

“He adds an element of speed and athleticism that we don't have a lot of,” Hagen said. “We've thrown a lot at Nate, and he's been a little frustrated in recent scrimmages because his head is spinning.”

Hagen added the 6-foot-4 Askew is improving rapidly at his new position, however, and “he's going to help us a lot.”

The linebacker the coaches vow they can count on come fall, senior Steven Jenkins, has sat out spring drills with a labrum injury. Jenkins finished third on the team with 79 tackles last season at outside linebacker, behind two players likely bound for the NFL: Stewart and defensive end Damontre Moore.

Jenkins' absence has at least afforded Hagen longer looks at Brett Wade and Reggie Chevis, who both graduated early from high school, and another early enrollee, junior college transfer Tommy Sanders. As for Baggs, he's taking over for the steady Stewart at middle linebacker — and taking on quite a load for a player who started one game last season.

“I put all the weight on me to get everybody lined up and get everybody together,” said Baggs, whose 41/2 tackles for loss last season ranked fifth on the defense. “I like the pressure, and I like being put in this situation, where you've got to be the guy. That's what I plan to do.”

And, if all goes according to plan for the Aggies, Stewart and Porter won't be sorely missed in September.

“It's a difficult position to play,” said Sumlin, a standout linebacker at Purdue in the mid-1980s. “You've got to be able to do a lot of things — and make decisions on the run.”